The clarion., 1887-04-13
The Experience Of One Of The Crowd.

"I'm not what you would call an old
maid, though l have attained years OF dis
cretion. Pm not wealthy and have not
wealthy folks. Pm not foo, and am not
ugly. I've lived in Jackson but little
while, and know little of the city's ways.
Pm a good manager, but | know | have
better chance to secure husband 10y being
we'll dressed than anything else, and go
am ever planning how to dress well on
limited income.
"My visit to the great opening at Sted-
mans was strictly business one, and my
criticism of what | saw and learned is
from a business point of view. | was at
tracted out by advertisements. (l'm al
ways suspicious of advertisemeuts) espe-
ciaIly so when outside of New York, and
fully expected to be disappointed. The
idea of Jackson being able to show any,
thing to compare with New York, either in
prices or STYLES, did not enter into my cal
culations for minute, and seemed to me,
a New York shopper, perfectly preposter-
ous.
/ started out early, determined to see
what was to be seen, maybe to get an idea
of stvle or color, and then to send on to
some of my New York friends to do my
shopping. / went into one or two places,
and was surprised in each instance at the
profussion OF goods, the immense stock as
| thought for such small place and at
very reasonable prices, too. struck oted-
mans last, but as soon as L entered the
store, impressed by the business air oi the
place, said to myself: This Is the house
81 the town. I'll camp here." Yes, there
US a crowd: but. YOU know We wemen
are much like sheep, we flock where the
crowd Ia the greatest. This was forced
home 10 me, for found myself desperate
lv anxious to get into the millinery de-
| nartmeut. where most OF the attractions
seemed to be. The stream carried me into
the whirlpool for to what better could you
compare Stedman's millinery room on an
..oneuing day" than this To say that
was astonished feebly expresses my sur
| prise at finding here in Jackson such dis
play of hats and bonnets, in one room as
this house showed last week. Nothing
ever | saw in New York surpassed 1t, anc
III have attended many openings. Tht
marked difference between New dors
and Jackson that first struck me, was
prices, but of this little later. STE a
mans millinery is quite store In itself
YOU will say, and it is. And this was de
corated in bowers, feathers and millinery
trimmings. -.
was fortunate in securing Miss Nat
tie Alexander's attention, and she took M
in hand. She impressed me at once tina
she knew her business. She has charge o.
sh;s denartment and under her manage
ment il has grown from nothing 10 wha
II i TODAY. The French hats 1 asked Z
see frst-i was suspicious. couldn oeliev'
Jackson would try to sell imported goods
mt tbev had them and as pretty as Roths
childs could produce. My habit had beei
to select nv shape and requisites, ana tnei
have them put together after my own idea
I mentioned this aud Miss - was called
She said she could give me any shape
could select out of the trimmed ones an'
! would gladly trim it; but suggested l r.
on some. and | tried on, found ooze
, ,h.t ex actly suited me, and at last decides
~, one in brown and tan at 7-50, and tn
sb.ne and material would cost me as muci
~ home. / felt satisfied, 1 WAS pleased
, ND then and there determined to CIV
vent to my pleasure, not In song, OIL SON
prose. .;,,;nsrx
! In thought / would price other things
t this big establishment, ana ,nsy A
. every thing, it seemed TO me. Dsess SUI
, and box suits looked at nrst. = Donns
( Is irst with q woman and dress y mex ',
s.w an / wanted to see. and found a.
wsnted to find, and the prices We're is"e
. .l.n shev are in New York: lmporte
sa~ sn robes at from $40 to $3.50 that woul
D 80 ~ lord s. Taylor's $l5 to $So, 70
Q s go, the new polka dot cameps halr con
: ..;or that are Just out in New lori
: - "a which I had samples at ~ per yale
j. 80 -. there IN patterns OF ten yards a. Sio
J. -, S aor,5 o;nehams at 10 cents, sold al I
Ioll u!,u sw ork seersuckers la cent